OUR BABIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1939, Page 8

OUR BABIES

Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society.) “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an / ambulance at the bottom.” SPRING TONICS. Many of us have a vivid recollection of having every spring to take a course of sulphur and treacle or some such decoction. Winter was regarded as an ynhealthy season —“the f blood became thick” (meaning that i- poisons had accumulated in the sysn tern), and therefore a spring tonic or s blood purifier in drug form was needed to assist Nature in the spring-clean- - ing of our systems. A great many peoe pie seem to prefer to believe in the r mysterious potency of drugs rather than pul their faith in simple, everyi day foods they could cultivate for - themselves. !. Nature supplies all the "drugs" needed for our well-being in a much more s easily assimilated form than anything s we can manufacture or buy as chemii cal foods in a bottle. Why should a tonic be especially , needed at the end of winter? Because 5 in winter more than in any other season our diet is less varied. Many folk • have not used foresight and planted I ■ early a supply of winter vegetables or / preserved those vegetables and fruits ! not obtainable during the winter . months. Also, because of the colder weather, we stay indoors and "hug" the fire, instead of dressing to suit the weather and going out’ for some brisk • exercise. The tonic effect of the exercise and the sunlight is most beneficial. Even if the sun is not shining, i there is still benefit to be derived from ] “skyshine.” So remember to let the i children play cutside as often as pos- < sible. As long as they keep warm the i cold will .’."lot harm them. ■

The most important times in the life of the individual are infancy and childhood, when the mental and physical development are largely determined, and we would plead for the welfare during these critical periods. The winter diet of the child should . be kept as well bajanced as in the , summer months to ensure his even growth and development. What is necessary for the child in this respect is as necessary for the adult, to conserve vitality and maintain health. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Many and varied are the vegetables that can be grown for winter consumption. The green, leafy vegetables are most valuable for the supply, of mineral salts so necessary for the regulation of the body processes. The most important mineral salts are:— (1) Iron (3) Phosphorus <2) Calcium (4) lodine. i Spinach has the highest percentage cf these, and though easy to grow in moderate climates, is difficult to keep going throughout the winter where there is a succession of hard frosts. Parsley has a very high iron content, and should take a more important place in the menu than a mere garniture. Parsley butter as a sandwich filling is an interesting way of introducing it into the diet. Chop the parsley finely and blend with butter (twice as much parsley as butter), and season with a little lemon juice and salt. Ground watercress, carrots, and raw celery may be used in other butter fillings. Scotch kale or curly green, savoy cabbage, leeks; celery, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots and turnips are all vegetables procurable and able to be grown for winter and early spring consumption. When cooking vegetables cook: in as little water as possible! (steaming is preferable), salt but slightly, and use the water with milk

for malting a sauce to serve with them, or save it for soups and gravies. Thus none of the minerals are thrown away. Never use soda when cooking vegetables.

i Most delectable salads can be made from raw vegetables. These are good for everyone—adults and the older child from his second birthday should be able to tolerate a small proportion also. From 18 months to two years of ago he should have been having lettuce in his. sandwiches, thus educating j him to the taste for crisp things in his diet, and, providing he has learnt to masticate properly, he should be able to begin with a little of the raw salads. Try making a salad of cabi bage (drumhead savoy is excellent for the purpose). Shred it very finely and add some grated raw carrot. Apples arc the most easily procured fruit for the winter months, and can be kept right on into the spring. Oranges are good, but expensive for i many households. | Foresighted parents will not find it necessary to spend much money for fresh, green foods in winter. They will have on hand everything they need to avoid a "rundown" condition of the family in the spring.